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(No Model.

' G. PALLESENXz J. M. JENSEN.

FIFTH WHEEL FOR VEHICLES. No. 278,786. Patented June 5,1883.

n PEYEHS. Fhcto-Lmwgraphen Washington. D11

'NITED STATES PATENT Warren.

CHRISTIAN FALLESEN AND JOHANES M. JENSEN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK; SAID JENSEN ASSIGNOR TO SAID FALLESEN.

FIFTH-'WHEEL FOR-VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 278,786, dated June 5, 1883.

Application filed January29,1883. (No model) L.

.To 2% whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHRISTIAN FALLESEN and J OHANES' M. J nNsEN, both of Brooklyn, Kings county, State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fifth- VVheels for Vehicles and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of annular fifth-wheels which are constructed without the use of bolts or nuts to hold the rings together.

It has for its object the concealment of the inner ring and its protection from mudand dust by means of the outer ring, and a ready detachment and separation of the two rings for inspection or repair without the removal or displacement of any of the stay rods or bars connecting the rings with other parts of the vehicle.

It consists in the combination of the runninggear of the vehicle with the inner, lower ring of the fifth-wheel, and of the body with one section of an upper, outer transversely-divided ring made to completely inclose the top and outer face of the inner ring, and whose free division is hinged to the section which is connected and fixed to the body of the vehicle.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, Figure 1 is a top view of our improved fifth-wheel, showing the hinged section opened in order to admit of the insertion of the inner ring to its seat; and Fig. 2 is a vertical sec tion of the wheel in line 00 aof Fig. 1.

A represents the solid ring or annular plate, constituting the inner and lower section of the wheel. This annular plate is provided with a projecting flange, a, encircling its periphery.

The upper ring is constructed in two divisions or semicircular segments, B B, hinged to .gether at one end, H, and adapted to close to gether with an interlocking joint, H, at the other. This upper divided ring is adapted to rest upon the lower ring and to overlap its outer periphery, and is grooved internally to receive and embrace its flange a. The two rings are united by opening the hinged division B of the upper ring, and after inserting the annular plate Ainto its seat in the opposite segment, B, closing the hinged segment and looking it by means of a bolt inserted through the apertures in the interlocking joint H, so that the two segments shall thereupon form a continuous ring. By opening the upper, outer ring, B B, (see Fig. 1,) the inner ring may be inserted therein, so that its flange a shall pass into and be embraced by the groove in said outer ring. Upon closing the outer ring it will form an annular seat, within which the inner ring may freely revolve and yet be confined by the engagement of its flange a. therewith, as shown in Fig. 2.

The double fifth-wheel thus constructed is secured to the running-gear of the vehicle by means of stay-bars O G and F F, extending, respectively, from the inner ring, A, to the springs and whiffletrees, and from one division, B, of the upper, outer ring to the body G. The free play of the inner ring within the encircling outer ring, to which it is coupled by the flange (1, permits the axle E of the vehicle to turn easily and smoothly under the body, obviating wholly the necessity for aking-b olt and affording a firm even bearing and support 101 the body over the axle at this point. The rim of the inner ring may be made convex to fit into a counterpart concave recess in the outer ring instead of with a flange to fit into a groove, as described. The overlapping and inclosing of the lower ring of the fifth-wheel by its upper ring or annular plate causes the joint between the two to be completely concealed, and to be 8 5 protected fronrdust, dirt, and moisture, while the entire device is simply and cheaply manufactured in a stronger, smaller, and n eater form than any heretofore made.

Ve are aware that it is not new to construct a 0 fifth-wheel in separate rings working one upon or within the other, and we do not therefore claim, broadly, this feature of our invention, nor yet the inclosure of a ring made in one sina gle piece within an outer ring divided in two 5 pieces to admit of being closed upon and about the inner solid ring, as shown in the patent to XVood, dated June 1', 1875, N 0. 164,067, in which the two rings cannot be separated without disturbing the connection thereof with the vehicle.

We claim as our invention In a fifth-wheel constructed of annular plates, the combination with its inner ring connected and secured to the running-gear of the Vehicle, of an upper divided annular plate rotating upon said inner ring, constructed to overlap, conceal, and protect the upper and outer rim and edge thereof, with one of its divisions fixed andsecured mediatelyto thebody of the wagon,

and its remaining division hinged to the first IO and left free to open out independently therefrom, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony whereof We hate signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

G. FALLESEN. JOHANES M. JENSEN.

lVitnesses:

DAVID A. BURR, XVALTER M. XVoLFE. 

